The times., 1887-02-18

Pillow said he expected to roll the enemy
(McClernand's division) in full retreat over
upon Gen. Buclner, when, by attack in
flank and rear, they could cut up the enemy
and put him completely to rout"
Pillows attack was sudden and furious
Reveille was just sounding in McClernand's
camp, and the troops wero not under arms
when the onset was made. There was cor
fusion, there was danger that the whole right
wing of the Federal army would be routed.
In few minutes though, in scarcely more
time than it takes to write il, McClernand's
men, gun in hand, had their faces toward the
foe.
The account of t.fo fierce onset and shock,
and its reception by the Federal soldiers,
read like some of Caesars battles with the
Gauls. Gen. Oglesby, of Illinois, who com
manded brigade on the right, received the
first tremendous attack. His men returned
fire till their ammunition gave out. They
snatched up the cartridge boxes from the dead
and dying and poured their contents into the
foe till that too gave out. Then Col. w. II.
l.. Wallace's brigade went to tho rescue.
That at length quailed before the "trebly
laundering" attack. A lamented statesman,
who has lately passed TO the realm of the un-
seen, distinguished himself gallantly here.
He was then colonel of the Thirty-first Illi-
nois and his name was john A. Logan. He
was here and there and everywhere in that
battle, showering electric words upon his
mon, his dark face lit with excitement, his
eye shining like an eagles BY tho magnet
ism of his personal influence Inc prevented n
panic and a rout carly in the day.
McClernands division, with Taylors,
Dresser's and McAllister's batteries of light
artillery, met the Confederate onset bravely
and we'll To the right OF Oglesby still was
Gen. Macarthur, nearest the river. He had
been ordered there the night before, with
troops who had had no food all day. They
passed the night in the snow and sleet, with
out fires or shelter. Gen. Macarthur had had
no tims to become acquainted with the nature
of the ground. He only knew that he faced
Fort Donelson. The Confederate design was
to make dash and get cavalry in his rear,
and then with cavalry TO rear of him, infantry
before, he would be powerless.
Soldiers do not always find it easy to fight
ON full stomach, but McArthurs men had
tasted thirty-six hours. In this state of hun
ger they were when they heard at o'clock in
the morning the firing on Oglesby on their
left. As soon as it was heard, without wait
ing for orders, Macarthur formed his empty
stomached men in line of battle. They took
lively hand in the fight. But presently a
worse trouble than empty stomachs con-
fronted them, and that was empty cartridge
boxes. Before that obstacle they were indeed
powerless, and so the brigade fell back some
hundreds of yards to the rear and took UP a
new position. 1t is sufficient TO say of them
that toward night they got one square meal,
and then moved over to the left of the Federal
forces to support the troops fighting there.
The morning progressed. 1t began to look
indeed MS il Pillow was going to carry out his
threat to "roll the enemy over" McArthur's
Brigade had crumbled away. SO had
Oglesby's. McClernands division was in the
grnvest danger. In the center, Lew Wallace,
with the Third division, was lying inactive
His orders were to act ON the defensive and
watch the Confedcrates to prevent their es-
Gaping his way.
Pillows division, in deploying, spread wider
and wider, and more and more toward Lew
Wallace McClernands division began to
waver. Three Confederate batteries, Maney's,
Porter's and Graves, poured a steady fire into
it Buckner was advancing, too, with his